We Canoe

I took this photo of myself when we were out canoeing and was lucky to get Kevin in there too. I had no idea!

One of our many canoes

My Hubby Kevin

New work in progress

I have been working on this for a while now and hope to finish it soon because I am notorious for starting paintings and then I get an idea for a new one and somehow I end up with allot of unfinished work. Now that I am retired I hope to finish some older works sitting around. I guess I work better if I have a deadline and a time frame in which to accomplish something. I started back to B.S.F. a few weeks ago and have allot of homework to do, so that is my priority. Looks like I may have to put the garden to bed this weekend. It's supposed to snow Sunday. I am always sad to see summer end but
really do love the snowy landscape of winter. I hope to blog more often since winter seems more concussive to computer world. Happy Fall you all!

Tears of Joy

I have officially fininished the first piece of work in the new studio. This combination illustration and poem will be part of a traveling exhibition that the Presbytery of Eastern Iowa is having and they will auctiion off the works online next spring and give the proceeds to the flood victims here in Iowa. I am also working on a sunflower painting which I must get back to. I can feel the creative spirit starting to flow within me once again. This usually happens around my birthday which has just passed, somehow I get a resurgenge of energy this time every year. I start back to B.S.F. this Thursday and am looking forward to this semester as we are going to study John. This is to be my 7th. and final year as I will have completed the program an will graduate in May. My daughter bought me a charm braclet for my birthday that has a charm for each of the different studies made by a jeweler in Texas that has also completed the Study. I read that B.S.F. piloting a study of Isaiah and may be adding it to the cycle so I may get to have a bonus Study in the future..... The gardens are starting to look a little dry and I have been cutting down and pulling up. So the cycle goes on........

Well it's about time that I get blogging again as most of the projects around here are winding down. Actually I made a new list of things to do today but I would like to pause and enjoy the fruits of our labor before the end of summer. The new room is just about finished except for some minor details and the old barn has a new coat of red paint . I really can't wait to see it against the white snow of winter but not too soon. I miss my friends in the blogging world and think about you often. Now I really have to get to creating some art again. This month is my birthday and I have some celebrating to do also.

Gwen Jones quilt artist

Just returned from a visit to my hometown and fortunatly was able to see the last showing at Peter Jones gallery which is closing after 25 years. This is a picture of Gwen Jones standing in front of some of her quilt works. I haven't seen Gwen for ages but it felt like yesterday that we were working on art projects together. I sent for a few of her mini quilts to hang in my new studio space for inspiration. I need to start working on an art project for the Presbytery of East Iowa which is based upon the bibilical story of Jesus and the "Woman at the Well" found in John 4:1-42. The show will be called Art as Living Water and will travel around the country next year. I have been formulating the peice in my head .Your prayers and inspiration will be appreciated. The windows for my studio should be in today and then the new art room can be completed . Hope it is finished soon as I must get to work on my art.Thank you all for your wonderful inspiration

As you can see the new room is coming along and soon I will be painting away!!! Not only will I paint the walls, there really isn't much there so I will soon be painting canvas and on old barn wood again. Thank you all my blogger friends for your inspiration. I hope to have a renewed season of creativity very shortly here.... Below pictures of my newly decorated computer room and dining room . Just had to throw in a picture of a few of the wonderful women in my group this year. I'll be missing them but will reunite in the fall to study John. I will have finished seven years in B.S.F. International next May. I am looking forward to the last semester and then who knows I just might start over again.

Some of the women in my Bible study group.

This is what my back porch was like before it was torn off today. It will soon be replaced by a 3 season porch where I can set up a nice sudio. I just can't wait. Below are a few pictures of the well that was discoverd. Too bad we had to fill it in because it was so nice, the workmanship amazing and to think that it's been here for almost a hundred years. I have missed blogging but I have been so busy with home improvement projects that I havn't had much time for anything else. All this work should be done by mid June and life can get back to normal.

I bought myself some tulips the other day because I just had to get a little spring going and the weather changed the next day . I think Old Man Winter took the hint. I hope you all are getting a hint of Spring wherever you are. I have Muscari blooming on the south side of the house and looks like the Daffodills aren't far behind. Yeah! Been cutting down vines and trimming trees and bushes. New fence to arrive next week so I have been clearing the way. I only hope they don't trample down all my spring flowers. This has been one busy winter around here so I am looking forward to the peaceful days of summer.

My Lenox "Sugar Egg"

Just a reminder of those sweeter days when we were children and Easter was one of those really special Holidays when you got all dressed up and went to Church with the whole family..... I still go to church but without little ones around to share the joy it just isn't the same, though in the past few years I have found a deeper and more spiritual reason to celebrate in the resurection and the light.

This is a painting that I am working on. It was a request from ny nephew. I hope to get it done by summer...but It too is on hold till this other work is finished...

I have missed blogging for awhile but I have been so busy around here. I just inherited this mirror and so I had to re-decorate my room. We are also repairing the ceiling in the computer/library room so the whole house is strewn with items from there. What a mess! I tore out an old bookshelf that was made from boards and have ordered new craftsman style bookcases and a matching computer desk. I am planning to paint the walls a color called Pawnee(kind of a burnt orange) and the ceiling Dakota Hills (golden tan). The ceiling has a way to go . After this room I move on to who knows where. My art work is on hold as I cant even get to my paints....Guess I'll settle for painting walls for now and enjoy looking at all of your creations.

Dandy Finds Himself A Home

This little frog that I purchased from Debra at Sparrow Grass finds himself right at home amongst the rest of my froggie friends here in Iowa. I think he is "just dandy" Thanks Debra! Have to go now or I'll be late for my stewarship meeting at church.....

This is a photo of one of my friend Cathies' creations. She does some very amazing things with shells as well as other things like mosaics, stained glass, paintings and who knows what she'll come up with . It's a fortunate thing we that we are friends as this town is so small and almost culture starved. She always gives me inspiration to keep doing art. Love you girl!! check out.. this girls art. Its a fun blog to visit.